Saturday 19 May 2018

HIGLEY

















"idem"
Year:  2017
Country:  US
City: Rimrock, AZ
Label:  Boss Tuneage
Format:  CD, LP
Tracks:  12
Time:  34 min.
Lyrical themes:  social issues, politics
Genre:  rock
Style:        Pop Punk
















Higley, the long-gestating project of G-WHIZ's Kevin Carl, have released the LP, CD and digital version of their self-titled debut album today via multiple digital download sites. The band features quite a roster on the other positions with various musicians filling out certain roles during the album's multi-year conception: Bill Stevenson (Descendents), Bob Hoag (Pollen) and James Menefee (River City High), and G-WHIZ bandmates Duane Kiener and Greg Gleason have all contributed at some point or another. Considering the people involved, I think I'm a little surprised that it's a similarity to Pollen that I hear the most.  The slick, distorted guitar and slightly gravely vocals mesh well with the steady, mid tempo rhythm section churning the songs along.  By the books pop hooks and chorus melodies pepper throughout the album and you can't deny their potency and effectiveness. Sometimes the songs feel a little too polished and somewhat clinical.  I wouldn't mind if things went off the rails a bit more and some of the perfection was traded in for a little chaotic energy.  Also the lyrics do lean towards a sort of confessional travel journal direction.  They can get overly heartfelt at times, particularly on "For A Minute," but the band is powerful enough to keep things from getting too sentimental.  It's a totally solid debut album and worth checking out, particularly if you dig Pollen or G-Whiz. The combination of veteran musicians, brilliant melodic voice, punk rock and intelligent lyrics become in a brilliant debut album highly recommended for all those fans of mature punk rock, power pop and conscious lyrics. Excellent
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